[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10665]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BEN STEELE

 Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I wish to recognize World War II 
veteran, teacher, and artist Ben Steele, for whom the new middle school 
in Billings, MT will be named. I had the distinct honor to meet Mr. 
Steele in Washington, DC, when he was in town for the Big Sky Honor 
Flight last year. Following the Fourth of July holiday celebrating our 
Nation's independence, it is fitting to recognize a man that 
understands the importance of freedom better than most. Mr. Steele 
served in the Philippines and survived the horrors of the Bataan Death 
March.
  As a prisoner of war, Mr. Steele chronicled his experiences through 
drawings, and after the war, he received formal training as an artist. 
Receiving his master's degree in art from the University of Denver, he 
went on to teach art at several colleges including Montana State 
University in Billings. His paintings depict the haunting scenes of 
war, and remind us of the great sacrifices our military men and women 
make defending our freedom.
  I want to express my deep gratitude to Mr. Steele for his service to 
our country and dedication to teaching and inspiring generations of 
Montana students.

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